We have heard good things about the Off Skintastic mosquito repellents made by the group at SC Johnson, and decided to give one of these deterrents the run through.

The Off Skintastic insect repellent family of products is designed for a light level of protection, much like the Avon Bug guard product line is.  The major difference is that these insect repellents contain DEET to repel against pests ranging from mosquitoes and gnats to chiggers and fleas. The percentage of DEET in the Skintastic line is around 5%, but varies between each repellent.  SC Johnson also carries a mosquito repellent for the sportsman with 98% DEET, while their Deep Woods Off repellent has 25% DEET.  The skintastic repellent we chose to review would be tested at a Father’s Day picnic.

Repellent Review picked a park that had a pond in the middle with various insects and other animals dwelling there.  We chose the Non Greasy Off Skintastic spray, because it was the least expensive, and there were men in the test group who objected to using the tropical fresh brand.  I won’t list any names Bob and Jeff.

The picnic lasted a couple of hours.  The spray was initially applied to areas of exposed skin such as arms, shoulders and necks.  We were careful to avoid spraying the repellent on our hands and especially the hands of the children since we’d be eating.  The Skintastic repellent wasn’t greasy or filmy feeling as some lotions and sprays tend to be.  There were mosquitoes in the area, and especially prevalent by the pond.  So how did Skintastic fare in our test?

One reviewer told me, “I’m usually a magnet for mosquitoes.  This stuff seems to work.  I noticed a mosquito land on my arm, but fly away after a few seconds.”  Another reviewer was more interested in getting a piece of chicken than reviewing the repellent.  A third person stated, “I like that this doesn’t stink.  You can’t really tell you’re wearing it at all.  I didn’t get bit.”  The last person reviewed summed it up best, “I was surprised at how quickly this dried.  Most bug sprays feel oily on the skin.  That’s no good when you live in an area that’s humid.  This repellent wasn’t like that at all.  I usually get bit, but I’m bite free today.  My husband has used the Deep Woods Off spray, and it works for him when he goes hunting.  I would buy this product.”

Of the 12 people who tried the Skintastic deterrent, only one received a mosquito bite.  This person spent most of their time near the pond feeding the ducks.  The mosquitoes were thick, and he may have been better off reapplying the repellent, or using one of the products with a higher percentage of DEET.

Based on our overall results, Repellent Review would use Off Skintastic mosquito repellent again for an activity such as this, and gives it a positive review.

     Current prices for Off! Skintastic mosquito repellent.

We’d like to hear about your experience with Off! Skintastic.  Leave us a comment!

Moving a cat into unfamiliar surroundings can often lead to behavior problems. Repellent Review came across such a situation allowing a test of the SSSCat Cat repellent. Two unruly cats, Albert and Carmen, recently moved into a new house with their owner, Kay. The cats started showing behavioral problems in the new environment immediately.There were three main problems the SSSCat cat deterrent needed to solve. The first challenge was trying to stop the cats from scratching the furniture. Kay had bought a new couch and loveseat when she moved in. Both cats were ignoring their cat scratcher and wreaking havoc with the furniture. Urine spraying in unwanted areas was the second challenge. One cat was urinating in a corner of the living room, and the other cat on the loveseat. The final problem involved trying to keep the cats off of the kitchen counter.

What is the SSSCat repellent and how does it work?

SSSCat is a safe cat repellent that contains a battery operated motion detector with sound and spray options. The first option allows you to both spray and frighten the cat with a neutral spray that is completely safe and humane. The sound produced by the SSSCat unit is a constant loud noise. Cats learn to develop comfort zones. By placing the SSSCat canister in the paths of the zones, the cats learn to modify their patterns. The cat repellent acts as a negative stimulus in the zone, and the cat soon learns to avoid the area.

Two canisters were used in Kay’s home. One repellent was placed near the couch, while the other was set near the loveseat where unwanted urine spraying was taking place.

Kay heard the alarm go off twice the first night after the canisters were set up. The following night, Coby, her son, heard the alarm. The cannister was periodically moved around the couch to turn it into a forbidden zone. The second cannister of cat repellent was moved first around the loveseat, then around the spots where the cats were spraying, and finally to the kitchen counter. It was also important to give positive reinforcements to the cats by taking them to the cat scratcher or showing them praise when they used their litterbox.

Within a few weeks, the SSSCat cat repellent had proved a solution to the behavior problems. No more cats scratching the furniture. Urine spraying stopped and cats stayed off the counters.

Other reviewers of the SSSCat repellent had similar success with the deterrent. ‘This product is great because it catches the cat in the act when you are not home, sleeping, in the other room, etc…We have had this product for about a month but we saw an immediate difference. Another reviewer using the product a long period of time stated that the spray lasts a few months to a year. Often, just using the sound option is enough of a deterrent after the cat has been sprayed a few times.

Based on the positive results seen with Albert and Carmen, Repellent Review gives the SSSCat cat repellent 5 stars. It’s safe method of changing cat behavior problems was a success. The ability to stop cats from scratching the furniture, urine spraying, and keeping cats off the counter, created a much more pleasant environment.

Get the latest prices on SSSCat here, or on Ebay.